Siddu, DKS discuss upcoming polls with Surjewala

By Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: They went to Delhi to meet AICC President Sonia Gandhi, but Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah and KPCC President D.K.Shivakumar ended up meeting AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Karnataka Affairs Randeep Singh Surjewala in Delhi on Saturday. As per the itinerary, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were supposed to meet Sonia Gandhi in the wake of the elections to legislative council and Rajya Sabha to be held next month. Both the State leaders air-dashed to Delhi on Saturday morning at the invitation of Sonia Gandhi.

However, they were asked to meet Surjewala since she was busy with other work. So, both of them met Surjewala and discussed with him about candidates for the Council and Rajya Sabha polls.

After the meeting, Siddaramaiah said he and Shivakumar discussed with Surjewala about the candidates, loyalty, service, caste, community and other things. As per the party strength, the Congress can ensure victory of two candidates. Randeep has promised to discuss Sonia Gandhi and clear the names as early as possible.

In regard to lone Rajya Sabha seat, the former CM said only preliminary discussions were held since there was lot of time to file nomination papers. The AICC President would decide and inform about the candidate soon.

Asked about opposition for giving ticket to the sitting Rajya Sabha Member Jairam Ramesh, Siddaramaiah ruled out any opposition and said the high command would take a call.

On the possibility of Shivakumar meeting Sonia Gandhi after he leaves for Bengaluru, the CLP leader shot back, “You ask him. We both met Surjewala in the morning. I am going back to Bengaluru to attend the reception of Mysuru MLA Tanveer Sait’s daughter in the State capital”.

Siddaramaiah also took a dig at Reveune Minister R. Ashok for holding the Congress Party responsible for the present predicament in Bengaluru during heavy rains. Let the minister tell how much money has been released to improve the infrastructure in the State capital in the last three years.

If the Congress government had failed to remove the encroachments of Rajakaluve in the past, what’s preventing the incumbent BJP government from clearing them? It was unbecoming on the part of the ruling party to blame the Congress party just to cover up its mistakes, he added.

Sacking mid-day meal workers unfair: DKS
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday questioned the sacking of midday meal workers who have completed 60 years of age as on March 31. He added that the direction came from the state government. So the Headmasters of government schools had to relieve midday meal workers who have completed 60 years of age as on March 31, 2022, without any financial benefits, he said.

The Congress veteran said: “As many as 11,000 mid-day meal workers in Karnataka have been retired for crossing the age of 60, with no pensions, no benefits and no financial assistance.” Stressing how such an abrupt decision will do a disservice to hundreds of midday meal workers for selflessly serving the children, he said: “People who served our children for decades asked to just stop coming one day. Don’t we owe them our gratitude?”

Shivakumar said that his party would stand by midday meal workers once they come to power. “Once the Congress party comes to power in 2023, not only will the party stand by them but also ensure that their interests are protected, highlighting the party’s commitment to the welfare and upliftment of all sections of society,” he added.